How to transform Excel spreadsheets into Fabric data solutions
You can start navigating the journey of moving your data from Excel to Microsoft Fabric, and you can also move it back to Excel. Many companies rely on Excel for important jobs.
80% use Excel for planning and reporting
59% use Excel to manage changes in SAP
When you stop using only spreadsheets, you unlock more value for your business.
With Power Query, DAX, security controls, and AI insights, you can transform, protect, and analyze your data in innovative ways. Navigating the journey from Excel to Fabric empowers you to work better and faster.
Key Takeaways
Switching from Excel to Microsoft Fabric helps teams work better together. It puts all data in one place and makes sharing easier.
Get your Excel data ready by cleaning it up. Make sure there are no repeats and that formats match. This helps stop problems when you move the data.
Use Power Query to bring your clean data into Fabric. Power Query makes moving data simple. You can also change data before it goes into Fabric.
Make a star schema in Fabric to keep data neat. This setup helps you find answers faster and makes looking at data easier.
Link Excel to Fabric so you can use both tools. You get updates right away and business users can still use Excel easily.
Navigating the journey from Excel to Fabric
Why Move Beyond Excel
You may wonder why you should stop using only Excel. Moving from Excel to Fabric helps you avoid hidden dangers and find new chances. If you keep all your work in spreadsheets, you can face problems. These problems include losing data, breaking rules, and having different business rules. Here are some common risks:
Switching to Fabric gives you one place for your data, stronger security, and better analytics. You can share data with other teams and keep your business rules the same. This helps you avoid Shadow IT problems. You also get tools for automation, data rules, and managing information about your data. These tools make your job easier and safer.
When to Start the Transition
You might ask, “When should I start moving to Fabric?” Here are some signs that show it is time to change:
Teams use different tools and have trouble working together.
You wait too long to get important answers.
There is no clear way to check data quality or safety.
You see mistakes or mixed-up numbers in your reports.
You have many copies of the same data in different places.
If these things happen, you should think about changing how you work. Start by bringing business and tech teams together. Talk about what you want to do and what data you need. Make sure everyone knows why data and analytics matter. With leaders’ help and good talks, you can make a plan that fits everyone.
Moving from Excel to Fabric is not just about moving files. It is about changing how you use data, work with others, and help your business grow. When you switch, your company can make smarter choices and get better results.
Prepare Excel Data
Clean and Structure
Getting your Excel data ready is the first step in navigating the journey from spreadsheets to Fabric. You want your data to be clean and easy to work with. Start by looking for common problems. Sometimes, you find missing values, duplicate rows, or strange formats. These issues can cause trouble later.
Here’s a simple way to clean and structure your data:
Insert a new column next to the one you want to fix.
Add a formula to change or correct the data.
Fill down the formula for all rows.
Copy the new column and paste it as values.
Delete the old column.
You should also remove duplicates and handle missing values. Standardize your formatting so dates, numbers, and text look the same everywhere. If you see blank rows, get rid of them. Make sure your data sits in a table, not scattered across the sheet.
Tip: Always create a backup copy before you start cleaning. This way, you can go back if something goes wrong.
Check for spelling mistakes and use Find and Replace to fix common errors. Manipulate columns as needed so each one has a clear purpose. When you clean and structure your data, you make it easier to analyze and share.
Assess Compatibility
Before you move your data to Fabric, you need to see if it’s ready. Excel files can have problems like error-prone formulas, manual data entry mistakes, or limits with large datasets. Sometimes, you can’t do much with filtered data or join tables easily.
Ask yourself these questions:
Is your data in a tabular format with no blank rows?
Did you check for errors and fix them?
Can you validate your analysis with the current structure?
Are your formulas simple and easy to follow?
If you answer “no” to any of these, spend more time cleaning. Import your data from an external source if possible. Make sure you have a backup. When your data is compatible, you avoid problems during migration and make the process smoother.
Note: Good preparation saves you time and helps you get better results in Fabric.
Import to Fabric
Use Power Query
Ready to move your cleaned Excel data into Fabric? Power Query makes this step easy and smooth. You can follow a simple process to get your data from Excel into Fabric. Here’s how you do it:
Open Microsoft Fabric and create a workspace for your project.
Set up a Lakehouse to store your data. This is where you keep both structured and unstructured files.
Upload your Excel file to the Files section in the Lakehouse.
In the Excel Browse dialog box, find your file or type the path.
Select Open to start the import.
If you want to use a Fabric Notebook, you can read the uploaded Excel file using Python code. This lets you load the data into a table and make changes if needed.
Tip: You can split your queries into steps for loading, transforming, and appending data. This helps you keep things organized and makes troubleshooting easier.
Power Query lets you shape your data before it lands in Fabric. You can filter, clean, and transform your tables so they fit your business needs. This step sets you up for success in the next part of navigating the journey.
Build Star Schema
Once your data is in Fabric, you want to build a star schema. This design helps you organize your data for fast and easy analysis. A star schema uses a central fact table and several dimension tables. Here are some best practices to follow:
A star schema gives you several advantages over traditional Excel models:
BI teams know this design well, so it’s simple to manage.
The structure fits perfectly with standardized reporting.
You can scale up and use real-time processing with modern data platforms.
Note: Building a star schema helps you unlock the full power of Fabric for business intelligence.
Troubleshoot Issues
Sometimes, you run into problems when importing Excel data into Fabric. Don’t worry—most issues have simple fixes. Here are some common problems and how you can solve them:
Performance problems can happen with large datasets.
Errors during loading often show up with files from SharePoint.
Query steps and data transformations might get tricky.
How do you troubleshoot these issues?
Optimize your query steps. Remove extra steps and keep things simple.
Test with local files. If you see errors, try loading the file from your computer instead of SharePoint.
Split your queries into separate steps for loading, transforming, and appending data. This makes it easier to find where things go wrong.
Know the limits of the SharePoint connector. Some features may not work as expected.
Tip: If you get stuck, check your data for blank rows, strange formats, or missing values. These small fixes can solve big problems.
By following these steps, you can make sure your data moves smoothly from Excel to Fabric. You set yourself up for better analytics, stronger security, and smarter business decisions.
Enhance Data Model
Apply Security
You want your data to stay safe after moving it to Fabric. Fabric has strong tools to protect important information. You can use sensitivity labels like General, Confidential, or Highly Confidential from Microsoft Purview Information Protection. These labels help you sort your data and keep it safe. When you put a label on a dataset in Fabric, the label stays with the data, even if you send it back to Excel. Only people with the right permissions can see or use protected data.
Here’s how security works in Fabric:
You can set labels for your data so everyone knows how sensitive it is.
The labels stay with your data wherever it goes.
Teams can control who sees certain tables, rows, or columns.
Administrators can check who looks at or changes data, which helps with following rules.
Tip: Use these features to keep your business data safe and follow rules like GDPR or HIPAA.
Add Business Logic
Now, let’s make your data smarter. You can use DAX to add business rules and calculations to your model. DAX lets you make new columns or tables based on what you need. For example, you might want to group customers by region or mark late payments.
You can also use DAX to pull out extra details, like the year from a date or the first letter of a name. This makes your reports more helpful and helps you answer business questions faster.
Enable AI Insights
Fabric brings AI into your data model. With Copilot, you can ask questions in plain language and get answers quickly. Copilot helps you find and import data, build reports, and even make visuals—all without writing code. You can connect to your data, refresh it live, and add new information with just a few clicks.
AI in Fabric helps you spot trends, find patterns, and share insights with your team. This means you can make better choices and keep everyone working together.
Bring Data Back to Excel
Connect Excel to Fabric
You might want to work with Fabric data right inside Excel. You can do this by connecting Excel to your Fabric workspace. Here’s how you can set it up:
Open Excel on your computer.
Log in with your work account to make sure you have access.
Start a new worksheet.
Go to the Get Data option in the Ribbon.
Pick From Database.
Select From SQL Server.
Enter your Microsoft Fabric connection string.
Fill in any extra details you need.
You’re ready to use your Fabric data in Excel!
Tip: If you use the right connection string, you can refresh your data anytime. This keeps your reports up to date.
Connecting Excel to Fabric lets you pull in large datasets, run your analysis, and share results with your team. You don’t need to leave Excel to get the latest numbers.
Maintain Usability
When you bring Fabric data back into Excel, you want to keep things easy for everyone. You can use features that help business users work with data without needing IT support. Here’s a quick look at what helps:
You can also keep your data safe and accurate by following a few smart steps:
Set up data validation rules so only correct data goes into your cells.
Use data tables to organize and analyze big sets of numbers.
Protect your worksheets and workbooks with passwords.
Check your formulas and references often to make sure they work right.
Note: These steps help you keep your data clean and easy to use, even as you move it between Fabric and Excel.
With these strategies, you make sure everyone can use the data, find what they need, and trust the results. You get the best of both worlds—powerful analytics from Fabric and the familiar feel of Excel.
When you move your data between Excel and Fabric, your work changes. You finish tasks faster and save money.
Bringing data together and using better analytics helps all kinds of businesses. This includes manufacturing, finance, and retail. You can begin with a small project and see your business grow with Fabric. 🚀
FAQ
How do you know if your Excel data is ready for Fabric?
Check if your data sits in a table, has no blank rows, and uses clear labels. Clean up errors and duplicates. If you can read and understand every column, you are ready to move your data.
Can you use formulas from Excel in Fabric?
You cannot copy Excel formulas directly. You use DAX in Fabric to create similar calculations. DAX works like Excel but gives you more power for business logic and analysis.
What happens to your data security when you move to Fabric?
Fabric lets you set security labels and control who sees your data. You keep your information safe and follow rules like GDPR. Only people with permission can view or change sensitive data.
Do you need coding skills to use Fabric?
No, you do not need to know how to code. Power Query and Copilot help you clean, shape, and analyze data with simple clicks and natural language. You can build reports without writing code.
Can you still work with your data in Excel after moving it to Fabric?
Yes! You connect Excel to Fabric and pull in your data. You can refresh reports, run analysis, and share results with your team. You get the best of both worlds—Fabric’s power and Excel’s ease.